Bhadohi police have arrested three young men in a cyber fraud case involving the alleged misuse of bank accounts opened on the pretext of securing government scheme loans, with investigators saying the racket has already been linked to fraud worth Rs 10 crore.
The accused were identified as Anshul Mishra, Kapil Rawat and Mohammad Shoaib, and the case came to light after a complaint by a roadside vendor from Jangpur named Aman Bind, who alleged misuse of bank accounts belonging to him and his sister.
Accounts opened in the name of loan assistance
Police said the racket lured people by promising loans under government schemes and then had bank accounts opened in their names. The accused retained control of the linked mobile numbers, passbooks and ATM cards after the accounts were opened.
Senior Superintendent of Police Abhinav Tyagi said one member of the gang, identified as Astitva Verma alias Ronak, befriended people such as Aman Bind while posing as a customer. He allegedly persuaded them to open accounts by offering the prospect of government loans. Investigators said those accounts were later used to park money generated through cybercrime across states including Delhi, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.
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More than 200 accounts under scrutiny
The investigation found that the gang shared bank account details through WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram groups. Police alleged that the network also carried out fraud by sending APK files in the name of shopping and credit services.
When the accused were arrested, police said they recovered four Android phones containing account data linked to several states, including Uttar Pradesh. Sources state that 545 complaints had already been registered against these accounts on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Investigators suspect the fraud figure could rise to Rs 50 crore as the probe expands.
Young accused and wider network
The arrested accused are said to be between 19 and 21 years old. Police alleged that the fraud proceeds were withdrawn through ATMs, petrol pumps and cryptocurrency channels, after which the money was distributed among gang members.
According to the reports, the network had five members in total, with Astitva Verma and Dhruv Pathak still being sought by police. Investigators said they are now examining other contacts and transactions linked to the organised network.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
